DSi XL Review
DS Lite sits on a DSi XL's lap
The excitement when the UPS man arrived with my new console was dampened a little by a surprise £38 import tax (that’s what I get for importing from Japan and not waiting for the UK release). To be honest though, it didn’t bother me too much because I was so eager to get at my DSi XL. Play-Asia had packaged a pretty neat set of screwdrivers with my order (maybe to compensate for not warning me about the import tax).
The console was packed in a thin and sleek box. Inside it were Japanese instructions and a Japanese power cable (my mains adaptor is on its way) next to the console itself.
Despite all the pictures I’ve seen of it before, I was still (surprisingly) surprised at its size. The screens are really nice to look at. I’m not sure how to say it other than, “the screens look really big”. They’re certainly striking and made me say “wow”. I was definitely impressed.
Maths Brain Training also doubles as a Japanese trainer. Unfortunately for those not wishing to learn a new language, you can't change it to English (on my imported console).
Unfortunately, the Brain Training games which are included in the systems are almost impossible to play in Japanese (maybe people who have played them in English will know what to do, but I hadn’t a clue). I did find writing on the screen to be more enjoyable even if the numbers I wrote were complete guesses. Not only are the bigger screens nicer to write on, but the new pen is much more comfortable than the stylus. I don’t think I’ll ever use the stylus again. If you have an older DS and aren’t planning to upgrade to the new console, you should at least buy a new pen. I don’t know why they didn’t think of it before.
People have been worried about the larger pixels being more noticeable. I wasn’t looking for it particularly but I didn’t notice them. I was impressed all round by the screens.
Although I’ve read a lot of web pages about the DSi XL, I never picked up on the fact that (probably due to popular demand) the top of the console once again has a glossy finish unlike the matte finish on the original DSi. On the underside of the console the matt finish remains. I think the idea is that the matt finish will be easier to grip, not that the gloss finish ever caused me to drop my DS Lite.
People have said that the new system might be too big but it fits in my jeans’ pockets fine and sticks out less than my wallet (maybe because it’s stuffed with cash, more likely with overdrawn bank cards used for importing games consoles).
Who should get: I have a big TV and big laptop screen. I’m a fan of big screens so I appreciate this hardware improvement more than any of the extra stuff that was introduced with the DSi. I had a DS Lite and definitely think it is worth the cost of the upgrade if you spend a lot of time on your DS.
What do you think? Will you be buying one? If you already have one, please leave your own review.
@victor
yeah, that would be really cool!
Got dsi xl dark brown today!!=) but not allowed to go on it till my birthday next week=( when i went to the shop it was a tough because i didn’t know if i should of get the dsi or xl but when i got to have a quick look at the xl i got it
I’m in Australia, 80 years young.
I have a dsi and use it as an e reader. and on the Internet
Have an XL on order for release here on April 15.
Would appreciate any comments re the xl as an e reader.
i got the dsi xl on the very day it came out!it is so cool any should get one
He who always plows a straight furrow is in a rut.
XL it is great …….but
still Nintendo should make the market application free for all
make it possible to every one to produce and upload app to the site were we buy stuff for points
also the fact i cant see youtube and see sites like bbc iplayer on my DSI xl hurts
we exist in a era that people demands freedom. produce anything, do it in a way that people can enjoy all that is available, and u made a formula to success
The DSI formula on xl is great if Nintendo make just a few adjustments to the software and hardware I have no doubts the DS xl can very easily dominate the market in many platforms (just free your mind I meant free the DSI system from barriers make it really cross platforms
Add a blue tooth capability
Add a cell phone capability
Make both screens touch screens
Add a second slot for SD cards or make 4 micro slots for micro SD cards able to accept 16 or 32G EACH
Add a pc /Mac connection (it would be sorted via software if a blue tooth connection exist or at list if the wifi software were aloud to link in network with other platforms
And believe DS would be beating even PCS and MACS very fast
If I was a CO on Nintendo I could guide them to make a device so desirable so self upgradeable
That every one in the planet would want a piece of the pie.
The ultimate conqueror conquest with freedom and not with shine new masked forms of slavery .
If you understand you will know what I mean.
If you don’t I suggest you free your self first .
Thanks for the attention
Christian Peace
@CHRISTIAN
Thanks Christian. Good to hear your opinion. I have to say I agree with what you say. Nintendo should be more open to user created content. Instead they are very protective of what they allow on their systems.
If anyone else has more in depth opinions, please share it. I love reading them.
For Adam. Just wanted to ask you if you know any details of the new DS2? I heard a very quick review of it on the gadget show. They say there might be a possibility of it being released for this xmas time? Thanks, Peter
Hi Peter. I’ve sent you an email. Thanks for your comment.
Much appreciated Adam!
I heard about the 3d ds. could you e-mail me about that too? Thanks.
Sure VK. Sent you an email too. Anyone else want to know?
Can you please email me re DS2. Thank you.
@Lana
Sure. Email sent. Anyone else?
My daughter (5) had DSI Light.
I exchanged it to DSI XL. It is so cool! So easy to use! In 1 hour my 5 y.o. child start to make pictures, edit them, save them in SD card!
I am in IT industry and can tell you THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GREAT PRODUCT! It is not only game console. It helps you to educate your child.
@Adam (admin)
Hey Adam,
Could you please send me an email regarding the DS2 / DS 3D. Any video info would be great too, otherwise just what you can send me.
Cheers
Ok, for lots of info on the new 3DS, go to nintendo3ds.org.uk. Tell your friends
Please send me the email about Ds2, thx
does it have an sd card slot
I might be getting A DSi XL this week and am thinking of getting it in brown. It looks really wicked!!!!
welli have a wne red dsixl and its wiked!
ive just got the dsi xl,although its just mainly bigger than the dsi,u can now go on-line with them,well thats if you can get it to i can’t just says error,any help please.
@CHRISTIAN
I completely know what you’re saying. It would be fantastic if Nintendo were to make the DS more opensource, so that it would allow people to code their own games and applications for people to download. It would definitely boost the DS’s popularity.
Add a blue tooth capability – This would be really great, especially seeing as it now has expandable memory, sharing files like drawing or sound recordings between DS’s would be great.
Add a cell phone capability – However I do not see much point in this, the DS is designed as a gaming platform primarily, adding telecommunication capabilities would take the focus away from this. Also, it would increase the physical size, and most likely decrease the size of it’s graphical and memory capabilities.
Make both screens touch screens – This could work extremely well for some games, though for others there would be little point. This is still a good idea, especially for games like brain training, or mini-game type games like WarioWare. It would also be a great feature for ebooks. However, unless you were holding the DS sideways, or had it sitting on a flat surface it would be difficult to reach up to the top screen.
Add a second slot for SD cards or make 4 micro slots for micro SD cards able to accept 16 or 32G EACH – I don’t see why they need to do this. It’s easy enouhg to buy an SD card with a bigger memory capacity, and you can also buy MicroSD card readers that are SD cards themselves, so you can use MicroSD anyway, as far as I know.
Add a pc /Mac connection (it would be sorted via software if a blue tooth connection exist or at list if the wifi software were aloud to link in network with other platforms – Computer connection would be, interesting, though I’m not sure if it has many practical uses.
Also, I don’t understand the second half of this sentence, really. Do you mean make it able to connect with other games consoles? Such as Playstation and Xbox? Because then all the companies would have to collaborate on software/games that could connect across platforms, and this would cost them more money and reduce competition, which is an extremely important element of sales.
However, if you meant create connection compatibility between the DS and other Nintendo consoles such as the Wii, that makes much more sense. I’ve been thinking for ages how the DS would make a great controller for the Wii, at least for me. This also gives new possibilities for the development of new games and gaming ideas, allowing information to be shown and events to occur on both consoles. This could mean much more exciting, in-depth gameplay.
Oh, and Adam, could you possibly email me about the DS2, also? I’d love some more information on it. Thank you.
i SO wanna get a dsi xl
THEY LOOK WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Granby Limb
Thanks for you comment Granby. It’s always nice to read a comment which is longer than two sentences. For info about the next DS take a look at http://www.nintendo3ds.org.uk
it is called 3ds. i see a bunch of pictures & i don’t know about it. sorry. ):
i have ds lite but i aint sell’n it. 1 i don’t have gba. 2 i can do ds download and beat my dsi xl. LOL. Who want the DSi origanle? right now it is one seventy bucks. don’t buy it.
this is sosososo cool
is a dsi xl the best hand held sisdom
I got a dsi xl for my birthday and i really like it! i am actually posting this on my dsi xl!
OMG I WANT EVERY SINGLE COLOUR OF DSI XL!
iwant a dsi xl for christmas but i also want a tablet my mum and dad said i have to pick one.
i am a ds lite owner and want to keep it. my parents said if i get dsi xl i can keep my ds lite.
the problem is i ALWAYS wanted a mobile and laptp and the tablet is a mobile and laptop together what should i get
I’ve been loving my beautiful Nintendo DSi XL Burgundy since I bought ity exactly a month ago on Mother’s Day on the 9th. The screens made my games Mario Kart and Spirit Tracks like paradise!
It is bigger but it actually feels much more comfortable on my small hands, than my DS lite. It’s heavier, but not that heavy. The brightness is sharper. It’s fun to use the original stylus and the pen-like stylus alternately. The sound is loud enough, unlike my small DS that it’s sometimes hard to hear the sound unless it’s so quiet around. The texture gives much more classy feel. The features are all cool, including the 11 different lens types and rainbow pen on pictochat, and the parakeet!:D
Those who say that it’s not a good upgrade, because the cameras wasn’t made better, remember that DSi is not intended to be a camera, it’s just one of great features. It’s the total game experience which is the most important
Even there would be 3Ds coming out next year, again, it would start like a typical prototype, and would just be improved in years like the DS before.
So DSi XL would still be enjoyed for many years!
marisse_redblossom
does the dsi xl have youtube on there? please reply if you know ty
i like the light pink DS……